Run with perseverence...

HEBREWS 12:1-4

I had a task of rewriting this scripture in my own words; simple as it should have been, I found myself encroaching upon a novel of grand proportions! You know this one - it's the one about running the race with perseverance and fixing your eyes upon Jesus (if you don't, look it up).

I had to step back, take a breath and try again.

For days now I have found myself pondering on the words and phrases Paul used and trying to imagine the personage behind them.

This is what I ended up with: (read this aloud, not in your head, a bit slower than normal. Pause sometimes.)

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Amidst the ‘how’s’ and ‘who’s’, Paul gives us one instruction here – Run with perseverance the race….

Imagine for a moment you are standing in position at the starting line, you look around. The grandstand is full, the other competitors are at the ready. The race is carefully marked out. You know there is a finish line.

There you stand, ready to go.

You slow your breathing, adjust your position and wait for the gun. Intense feelings.

BANG!!!

There it is. And you’re off.

You take your first step. You stumble and fall.

Lifting your eyes, you only see the backs of the other competitors.

Confusion sets in.

Your vision is blurred.

Looking down at your feet you wonder what just happened.

Then you hear it.

The Authors voice.

            “Look at me”.

            “Consider what I endured'.  The blood.

            “Look to the crowd”.

            “Now run”.

Lifting your head you feel like all eyes are on you.

Surrounding you are the great men and women of faith who have gone before; some ran the race but didn’t receive the prize and some ran the race and received an automatic pass. You see it is different for everyone, I now realise this.

Some lost body limbs and others their lives from bystanders who used rocks and swords. The firstborn, Abel, only took a few steps before his race was abruptly cut short by another competitor!

And yet, here they are. Cheering you on. Reminding you of ‘how’ and ‘why’.

Get up! Keep running! Faith will sustain you.

You pick yourself up.

This time you are determined to run again, but this time your eyes will be on the Author & Perfector.

Resolute.

This time you will listen to the witnesses.

As you run you notice others stumbling and fall.

Now it is your voice that echoes amongst the Great Cloud of witnesses.

“Get up! Keep running! Faith will sustain you”.

You may not finish the race. You may limp part of the way. You may 'feel' abandoned.

But you are not alone, never have you been and never will you be.

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Unpacking (Study notes - if you are limited for time you don't need to read these)

Therefore:

Therefore what?

It means to read the Chapter before... that's the why...

Abel - The firstborn of all mankind, By faith offered to God his best and was murdered for it.

Enoch - By Faith took 10 steps in the race and was taken straight to the finish line. 

Noah - By faith built a boat with no water for miles. He was considered righteous.

Abraham - By faith obeyed and was considered righteous.

Sarah - By faith believed God and was blessed.

Isaac - By faith blessed his children and was considered righteous.

Jacob - By faith blessed Josephs Son.

Moses' Parents - By faith hid him and trusted God.

Moses - By faith gave up his Earthly inheritance to be faithful to His heavenly Father.

The Israelites - By faith walked on the Ocean bed with walls of scarry water all around them and enemies behind them, not knowing what lay ahead. They overcame and were blessed.

Rehab - By faith protected God's people putting her own life at risk and was blessed, protected.

Then there are those that should get a mention: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, The Prophets - By Faith: 

• Conquered Kingdoms
• Administered Justice
• Gained what was promised
• Shut the mouths of lions
• Quenched fiery flames
•  Escaped the sword
• Weakness turned to strength
• Were powerful in battle
• Rerouted foreign armies
• Women received back their dead
• People were raised to life
• Some were tortured; jeered at; flogged; chained; imprisoned; stoned to death; sawn in two; had no clothes, food and were destitute; mistreated, persecuted, wandered in the desert; lived in caves and lived in holes in the ground.

Heb 11vs 40 And yet they didn't receive what was promised because God had other better plans.

"Let us"  

A corporate race - one body many members. Individual but side by side.

"Run"  

• Keep doing the task at hand.
• One foot in front of the other
• Stay focused
• Control the elements - steady your breathing, ease the cramps and stretch, take control of the mindset of defeat, don't look around and be jealous - concentrate, develop or break a rhythm.

"Persevere" 

Put up with it. Keep going. Control your mindset.

"Marked out"

God strategically planned the course you are on, with all the valleys and mountains, the rocks on the road and bends in the path. The people you encounter and the place where your foot lands.... Definitive lines were carefully marked out by the Author. and He will keep you perfectly (IF...). 

HOW?

1. Observe those who witnessed to you 
2. Throw off the things that get in the way, the entrapments
3. Keep your eyes on Jesus
4. Know with certainty that the race was purposefully marked out for you by the Author.
5. Don't forget Jesus or you WILL grow weary and lose heart AND hope. Don't forget there is a finish line.

From Today's study I was further challenged to remember that:

•  'I' can be an obstacle in my own race. 
• Jesus also ran the race and knows the challenges oh so well. 
• Be Spiritually fit and the Holy Spirit will carry you in times of great need. 
• And finally when faced with a grey line, ask yourself "Does it help me run?". 

Now get out there, work out who you are in this race called life and run as best you can.
Get up! Keep running! Faith will sustain you.